Self-Awareness is the most underrated, underutilized coaching tool in the world.
“Self-Awareness is the most underrated, underutilized coaching tool in the world.
‘Is this the type of effort I would give my own kid?’
‘Am I presenting myself in a way that he can understand?’
‘Am I focused on her growth beyond sport?’
Introspection feeds impact potential.’”
-Ray Zingler on X
“The Great ones know they are unaware. Champions have come so far in raising their levels of awareness that they realize there is always a higher level.”
-Steve Siebold
Self-awareness is the most underrated, underutilized coaching tool in the world.
Life moves fast.
We’re “so busy”.
And then before you know it, time is all but gone.
This is how it goes for people who are poor stewards of their time, and this is precisely why many people fail to be self-aware, yet justify their unevolved, stagnant, actions and behavior because they are “busy and doing a lot”.
But the only way to truly evolve as a coach, or really as anybody, is to practice self-awareness.
And I’m not talking giving self-awareness lip service, I’m talking about deeply and regularly critically assessing yourself, your thoughts, and your actions.
Could I have been wrong here?
Could I have handled that situation better?
What can I do next time to ensure that I don’t jump react, but thoughtfully respond to that situation?
These are very simple ways to get started with self-awareness.
A key component, though, is to leave your ego at the door and critically assess yourself (This is where most get it wrong). And remember, it’s not about “being right” or “making a point” it’s about resolving problems and making a difference.
Leadership 101.
This simple exercise of asking myself these simple questions has helped me grow not only as a coach, but as a man in my day-to-day life more than any other.
Once you understand the concept of introspection and build the habit of self-awareness, not only does your worldview become updated and clearer, but you can also begin using self-awareness in any and every situation to better influence your actions and behavior.
The more you practice, the better you get at it.
Is this the type of effort I would give my own kid? Could I have put my phone down and stayed more focused?
Am I presenting myself in a way that he can understand? Could I have updated my language to bring greater clarity to my message?
Am I focused on her growth beyond sport? Does berating her over something trivial add value to her existence? What about her perception of me?
This stuff matters.
